Hōkūleʻa’s first public port of call after sailing through British Columbia, Canada on the Moananuiākea Voyage will be Seattle, Washington. The legendary voyaging canoe that revived the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation and propelled a cultural renaissance in Hawaiʻi, is slated to arrive at Seattle’s Pier 62 on Saturday, August 26, at 8:00 am. After seeking permission, the crew will be received and welcomed by the Muckleshoot Tribe, a Federally-Recognized Indian Tribe composed of descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup Peoples who inhabited Central Puget Sound for thousands of years before non-Indian settlement. Following the welcome ceremony, cultural protocols and canoe tours at Pier 62, Hōkūleʻa will be docked at Bell Harbor Marina for three days of public canoe tours. On August 30, Hōkūleʻa will sail to the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum in Tacoma where the canoe will remain until September 1, for public canoe tours. A schedule of community events will be announced soon.

Hōkūleʻa’s Seattle port engagement is being organized and hosted by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Port of Seattle, Waterfront Park Seattle, Bell Harbor Marina, Visit Seattle, and others. Tacoma planning efforts involve the Pullayup Tribe, the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, and a host of volunteers including Hawaiian and Pacific Islander performers. Overall coordination for both cities was provided by the Seattle and Tacoma Community of Kānaka, Hawaiʻi-affiliated groups, the outrigger canoe community, and supporters of Hōkūleʻa.

“The Port of Seattle welcomes the crew of the Hokule’a and the message they bring from indigenous voices across the Pacific Ocean – protect our most cherished values and places from disappearing,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. “The importance of their message is underscored as we lament the tragic losses from the devastating fire in Lahaina.”

“Seattle and Tacoma are key anchor stops for the Moananuiākea Voyage. It’s a special place and environment with a strong indigenous presence and a large population of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders,” said Nainoa Thompson, CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. “We look forward to engaging with all of these communities as well as the science and ocean institutions that are keeping an eye on the living systems of this changing earth. This voyage is about exploring, discovering, learning and sharing so that we can make better decisions for our future.”

Hōkūleʻa has been sailing south from Southeast Alaska since the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) held its global launch of the four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific in Juneau, Alaska on June 15. The canoe and her crew are currently sailing through British Columbia where they continue to engage with First Nations communities.